Controlling mechanism for refrigerating apparatus



c. c. HANSEN.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED Auchis. I916.

I 1,422,853, Patented July 18, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHE ET l.

C. C. HANSEN.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR REFRlGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18 1916.

1,422,853. I Pawn-a Jul 18, 1922.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. HANSEN, FOREST PARK, ILLINOIS. ASSIGNOR TO REFRIGERATING SPECIALTIES COMPANY, OF GHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. I

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

' 7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that, I CHARLES C. HANSEN,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident toms and more particularly to safety devices for controlling the systems in event of breakage or improper operation.

one object of the invention is to provide an improved system by which the suction line to the compressor or the low pressure side of the line will be closed to prevent the How of fiuid to the compressor in event the pressure on the high pressure side becomes excessive or falls below the predetermined minimum. By making a provision for the operation of this safety device, both when the maximum. is exceeded and the pressure falls below the predetermined minimum, the compressor will not be operated to raise the pressure in the high pressure line when the predetermined maximum is reached, and the fluid in the low pressure side of the line will be prevented from being wasted in event that the compressor head is blown out or damaged. The invention contemplatesthe operation of a safety valve on the low pressure side of the compressor under control of the pressure in the high pressure side of the refrigerant line and further contemplates the control by the safety device of the motor for driving the compressor, so that as well as controlling the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant line, provision is made for shutting off the motor, either when the pressure on the'high pressure sidebecom'es excessive or falls below the predetermined minimum. 1 i

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth, and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a diagram- I matic view of a refrigerating system embodying the invention, the. electrical corinections for controlling the magnet for re-' leasing the cut-off valve to the suction side of the compressor being shown outside of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1922.

Application filed August 18, 1916. Serial No. 115,694.

their case for clearness in illustration. Fig. 2 is a section of the mechanism for controlling the circuitbreaker. Fig. 3 is a section of the safety out-oif valve in the suction line.

The invention is shown as applied to the refrigerant system comprising a compressor 7, a condensor 8 having a coil connected by pipe 9 to the high pressure side of the compressor, said line having a check-valve 10 therein, a receiver 11, a reducing valve 12, and a refrigerant coil 14, connected througha cut-off 15 to the suction side of the compressor.

Cutoff 15 comprises a casing 16 having a chamber 17 therein in communication with the refrigerant line 14. The up er portion of this chamber is provided with for a valve 19 which is'pressed toward its closed position by a spring 20 applied to the lower end of the stem 21 of the valve. A chamber 22 is formed in the casing 16 above the valve-seat 18 and is in communication with the suction side of the compressor by a pipe 141. The upper end of the chamber 22 is formed by a diaphragm 23 which is held between the upper end of easing 1.6 and a member 24 which is secured to the upper. part of said casing. A head 25 closes the upper end of member 2 1 and serves as a guide for a stem 26 provided with a head a seat 18 I 27 at its lower end which is slidable in a guide 28 in the bottom of the member 24 and is adapted to engage diaphragm 23 to open the valve 19, the latter being provided with an upwardly extending stem 21. which is operable by the diaphragm. A packing box 29 is provided in the head 25 which is operative in event the diaphragm 23 should become defective, to prevent the escape of gas from the suction line." Stem 26 extends through the packing box 29 and is provided at its upper end with a roller 30. A cam 31 on a s aft 32 mounted in a bracket 33 on head 25 serves to hold the stem 26 lowered to hold the diaphragm 23 in position to hold the valve 19 open. An arm 34 on cam 31. is normally heldin position to cause cam 31 to hold stem 26 lowered by a hook-lever 35 the magnet is de-energized under control of mechanism hereinafter set forth, either when pressure in the high pressure side becomes excessive or falls below the predetermined minimum, armature 38 will be released and will fall upon lever-arm 37. This'dropping of the armature will cause lever to be moved away from and release arm 34 and as a result cam 31 and'the valve 19 will be free to be lifted by spring 20.

ation of magnet 39 comprises a pipe 40 in communication with the high pressure side of the compressor and connected to pipe 9, and a Bourdon tube 41 adapted to be actuated in response to'variations of pressure. The outer or free end of this tube 41 is closed and is connected by alink 42't0 a gear 43 which is ivotally sustained at 44 in a casing 45. A pinion 46 meshing with gear 43 is pivotally sustained in the casing at 47 and operatively connected to an arm 48 which carries a circuit breaker 49 of insulating material at its outer end. When the circuit breaker 49 is operated responsive to excessive pressure in the pipe 40, it will be shifted into position to separate a pair of normally closed contacts 50 and 51. When the breaker 49 is operated responsive to the lowering of the pressure in the pipe 40 below the predetermined minimum, itwill be shifted into position to separate .a pair of normally closed contacts 52 and 53. Casing serves to enclose the contacts, pressure tube 41, the breaker arm and its operative connection with said tube and is usually for convenience secured on the head 25 of the cut off 15.

In the diagram shown in Fig. 1, a pair of leading-in conductors 54 and 55 from a suitable source of current are connected to an electric motor56 which is connected to drive the compressor 7 in any suitable manner and which has brushes connected to the leadingin conductors respectively.- A. switch 57 for controlling the operation of the motor is included in conductor 58 leading from the leading-in conductor 55 to the motor. An electro-magnet 59 is adapted to operate a solenoid armature 60 which is adapted, when released, to operate the switch 57 to open the circuit for the motor 56. Magnet 59, contacts 50 and 51, 52 and 53 and the helix of magnet 59 are all included in a conmaximum. The present controlling mechanism is more particularly adapted for nonautoniatic systems or those which are .controlled by an operator. If, however, the operator should fail to keep the system within these pressure limits, the safety device will controlthe apparatus. If the pressure in the high pressure side should exceed the predetermined maximum, which may result from lack of supply'of cooling water in the condenser, the excessive pressure in tube 41 and pipe 40 will cause said tube tooperate The mechanism for controlling the oper-- link 42 to rotate gears 43 and 46 and the latter will rock arm 48 so that the circuitbreaker 49 will separate contacts 50 and 51 and open the circuit for magnets 39 and 59. When the magnet39 is tie-energized, its weighted armature 38 will operate lever 35 to release arm 34 and cam 31, whereupon spring 20 will close VZLlVBylQ and prevent the compressor from drawing gas from the low pressure side of the line, and thereupon the compressor will be inoperative to raise the pressure in the high pressure side. De-energization of magnet 59 will cause'it to release its armature 60 which will then be. operated by its own weight or other suitable. means to open the swltch 57. Thus, an excess of pressure at the high pressure side of the compressor will render the compressor inoperative to increase the'pressure in the high pressure side of the line and will also stop the motor 56 for driving the compressor. If the pressure in the pipe 40 should fall below the predetermined minimum, as may occur if the compressor head is blown out or becomes defective, the dropping of the pressure in the pipe 40 will cause tube 41 to be contracted which will move the circuitbreaker 49 into position between contacts 52 and 53. When the circuit through conductor 61 is broken, at said contacts, magnets 39 and 59 will be de-energized and valve 19 will be closed and switch 57 will be opened, the same as when the circuit was interrupted as the result of excessive pressure. It will be understood that the switch 57 and arm 34 and lever 35 will be reset into operative position by the operator whenever a defect in the system has been remedied.

In event the source of potential should fail to sup-ply current to the electrical conductors, magnets 39 and 59 will be de-energized so that the valve 19 will be closed and switch 57 will be opened.

In some instances, it has been found desirable to signal the operator in charge promptly when the current is broken, so that whatever steps, if any, are necessary to restore the system tonormal condition may be performed by the operator. For this purpose, an electric bell 70 in circuits controlled by normally open switches 71 and 72 is provlded. A battery 73 is connected to said circuits. Whenever breaker 49 passes into close proximity to either pair of contacts for opening the circuit through magnet 39, it will close one of the switches 71 or 72 and. close a circuit which will cause bell 70 to sound an alarm to indicate that the pressure is approaching a critical point and attract the operators attention to the system.

The invention thus exemplifies a refrigerating system in which provision is made for closing the suction line to the compressor, either when the pressure on the high pressure sidebecomes excessive or less than the predetermined minimum. Also one in which provision is made for controlling the motor for driving the compressor responsively to the cutting off of the suction line from the cmpressor.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a refrigerating system, the combition of a compressor, a circulating line for the refrigerant connected to the compressor,

said signallin an automatic cut-ofii' in the low pressure side tion of a compressor,- a circulating line for the refrigerant connected to the compressor, an automatic cut-off for the refrigerant, a motor for operating the compressor, a switch for controlling the motor, electro-magnetio means for operating said switch, a signalling device to indicate when the cut-01f" is going to be operated and compression controlled, common means for first o crating device and then sai cut-off.

3. .In a refrigerating system, the combination of a compressor, acirculating line for the refrigerant connected to the compressor, a cut-off in the low pressure side of the line leading to the compressor, a device operated responsively to pressure in the high pressure side of the line for automatically closing the cut-off, a signalling device to indicate when the cut-off is going to be operated, and common means for operating first said signalling device and then said cut-ofi.

CHARLES C, HANSEN. 

